We are a movement that has more irons in the fire than at any other time in our history. From city to city, state to state, we are working to create a world that values diversity and one where LGBT people are included, respected and equal. And while in some arenas we may make little visible progress this year, we are building the structures and collaborations that can make us more powerful and successful across the next four years.

We’re working on marriage, civil unions, domestic partnership benefits; we’re trying to overturn the ban on LGBT individuals serving openly in the military and to secure proper funding for our community in all health-related arenas: youth, women, HIV/AIDS, transgender and seniors. We continue our efforts to meet the unique needs of LGBTQ youth and seniors and to protect LGBT people in schools, the workplace, nursing homes and healthcare facilities. We fight attempts to ban LGBT people from becoming foster or adoptive parents, work to include transgender people in places they haven’t been included, and try to shine a light on HIV “superviruses” and lesbians with cancer. We work toward LGBT inclusion in hate-crimes laws and employment non-discrimination legislation. We continue to address same-sex partner abuse, substance abuse and inadequate and unfair government funding for services and programs that target and serve our community.

I understand that it feels completely overwhelming. It is. It can feel hard to keep up with what’s the most recent or accurate news. For some, it’s difficult to make the time to take in all the information. And sometimes it feels even more challenging – after screaming at the television or the computer – to figure out how you want to respond.

Many in our community are actively engaged in the battle for marriage equality. Marriage remains at the forefront of our movement, and we in California are uniquely positioned to both move that issue forward and stop the losses we have seen in some parts of the nation. AB 19 (Leno) – the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act –continues to move through the California Legislature. At the same time, we are also very aware that opponents of marriage equality will continue doing all they can to, not only keep us from legal marriage, but to also take away the hard-earned basic protections we just gained through the domestic partnership bill, AB 205. They report they are planning a statewide ballot initiative for 2006 to ban same-sex marriage and to roll back AB 205.

At the same time that we are called to focus on marriage and relationship recognition, we must also begin a new community dialogue about substance abuse, with a particular focus on the dangers of crystal methamphetamine use. Although they will be difficult and demanding, these are conversations we must have. We cannot afford to lose one more member of our community to the ravages of this drug. We must work together to support our brothers and sisters so they don’t lose their health, jobs, relationships, homes or lives.

We all have to juggle priorities – at work and at home. Every day at The Center, we must turn our attention to a diverse range of issues – all of which are important, and all of which demand our best work, collaboration and effort. Yet there is so much happening, that sometimes I feel overwhelmed at all there is to tackle on any given day; in any given week. However, it is always helpful for me to remember that our LGBT community and our allies have faced our collective challenges before with courage, perseverance, talent and generosity. We will continue to do that – we simply need more courageous and talented people to join us in our efforts. We need more people who are more willing to get more involved.

And we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that it is because we are making progress, and winning important battles on the road to full equality, that our work requires more of us than ever before.

If you are interested in getting more involved in the fight for marriage equality, please contact AJ Davis, The Center’s

director of public policy, at adavis@thecentersd.org. To find out about other opportunities to get involved in the San Diego LGBT community, please contact Eddie Valtierra, coordinator of volunteer resources, at evaltierra@thecentersd.org. He can help you find the right volunteer fit for you – either at The Center or another community organization.

Simply put, our community needs more people involved. This is one reason that having a vibrant, active and engaged community center is so important.